The artificial intelligence industry is growing its influence in the public sphere as the technology increasingly enters every facet of life, from the workplace and academia to entertainment, healthcare, and even grocery shopping. But women are being left out of key decisions regarding artificial intelligence development and deployment, Harvard researchers argue in a newly published report.

In a survey of more than 5,000 American adults, researchers found that women were not only underrepresented in jobs directly involved in AI development, but they were also much less likely to use the technology itself. Men tend to use AI more often than women, both at work and in their personal lives, the survey found, while women reported receiving less access to AI training in the workplace.

“These gaps do not mean that higher AI use or greater trust should be goals in themselves,” the report says. The issue the findings highlight is how much influence men have over the trajectory of AI development and deployment versus women.

“Across genders, respondents say men’s needs and perspectives are better represented in AI development and AI-generated content,” the report says. “At best, underrepresentation may mean missed opportunities for value creation among certain groups. At worst, it may cause direct harm, reinforce existing social inequities, sow distrust, and perpetuate pipeline issues that limit who enters and advances in the field.”

Even though most respondents reported low overall trust in AI, women tend to trust AI less and associate it more with concern and anxiety. Meanwhile, men were more likely to see AI as a source of optimism, curiosity, and excitement.

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